…Says Fuel Hike Will Cause Hardship
…Condemns Destruction of Nations Assets by Militants
By Francis Sadhere
The new chairman of Warri South People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Johnson Agbeyegbe has lauded Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for the successful conduct of the party’s state congress recently held all over the twenty five local government areas.
Mr. Agbeyegbe who spoke to our Correspondent in Warri yesterday said with the successful conduct of the party’s congress in the state, it shows that Deltans were hundred percent in support of the party and the administration of Governor Okowa.
He lauded Governor Okowa’s effort in the peaceful conduct of the just concluded congress, saying that Governor Okowa has shown the world that he is a good administrator.
While assuring Governor Okowa of his commitment to the governor’s ‘SMART’ agenda, Mr. Agbeyegbe also congratulated the new Delta State PDP Chairman, Barrister Kingsley Esiso and promised to work with the new party’s state executive .
Mr. Agbeyegbe who also commented on the hike of petroleum pump price by the federal government said the hike was done at a time that Nigerians were passing through pains, adding that the hike shows the insensitive nature of the present administration.
He said subsidy was the only thing that the common man was enjoying from the government, lamenting that now that the government has removed the subsidy the people no longer benefit anything from the government.
He said, ” He might have a reason for doing what he did, but as the President of the Country he has to put the peoples interest first and do things that will not impoverished them more.
“The increase of the pump price is going to add more hardship on the populace and this is most unfortunate that it is coming at this time that price of everything has skyrocked. As a government you must have a human face in whatever you are doing.
“The reason he gave for the increase is okay from the economic angle but the government is not supposed to be operated only from the economic angle. The reason why the subsidy was introduced was to lessen the peoples burden. But today the president does not care as far it is good for the economy.”
He also condemned the continous onslaught against oil facilities by the new militant group, the Avengers, calling on the militants to adopt a new approach other than violence as they continue to agitate for their rights.
He said the continous destruction of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region was not the solution to the problems in the region.
He advised the militants to embrace dialogue with the Federal Government and try to resolve all grievances without destruction of the nation’s asset and spilling of blood.
Mr. Agbeyegbe lamented that the actions of the militants has caused untold hardship for the people living in the river side communities, urging the militants to soft-peddle in their agitation.
